Protecting our Fish and Wildlifefor Future Generations.

News Release

Minister Acknowledges Efforts of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers in Restoring First World War Monument

Media Contact

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Mr. Speaker, last summer while on
patrol along the shores of the Merasheen Islands and the Burin
Peninsula, several Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers came
across a dilapidated monument in the resettled community of Little
Bona. Upon closer examination, the officers discovered that the
monument was in commemoration of Private Michael John White of the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Private White was the son of Joseph
and Evangeline White from South East Bight. During the First World
War, he enlisted with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Little
Bona and was on the front lines early in the fall of 1918 near a
town in Belgium called Ledeghem.

Between September 28 and October
26, when the Regiment was relieved of duty, 93 members were killed,
including Private White who died on October 3 when he was just 17
years old. The war ended several weeks later on November 11. After
paying the ultimate sacrifice, Private Michael John White was
buried in the New British Cemetery in Dadizele, Belgium.

Mr. Speaker, the 1921 census shows
that Little Bona had a population of just 25 residents. One can
only imagine the devastating impact that Private White's death must
have had on the community.

Almost 100 years later, after
coming across the monument laid in memory of Private White,
Officers Doug Hayes, Joseph Janes and Gary Edwards notified
officials with the Canadian Armed Forces who asked the officers to
bring the monument to St. John's for repair.

Mr. Speaker those repairs were
completed and a few days ago, on June 14, representatives of the
Canadian Armed Forces and the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement
Division boarded a boat and left North Harbour, Placentia Bay, in
possession of the refurbished monument to re-erect it at Little
Bona.

On June 15, a wreath-laying and
repatriation ceremony was led by Captain Glen Eagleson, the padre
for the Canadian Armed Forces base in St. John's. The monument was
respectfully placed again in the community along with a flag pole
flying the Royal Newfoundland Regiment banner.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to
acknowledge the initiative shown by Fish and Wildlife Enforcement
Officers Hayes, Janes and Edwards and their effort to ultimately
determine the importance of that weather-worn monument from Little
Bona so that it could be properly restored. As well, acknowledgment
is due to Officers Travis McDonald and Bradley Sparkes who helped
with its reinstallation.

Private Michael John White now has
a monument that is a fitting tribute to the important role he
played in our history. A role that was so commonly filled by more
than 6,000 young men from communities throughout Newfoundland and
Labrador during the First World War.